QSR1853/1/5/25/b

Depositions - James Duncombe

20 December 1852

From: 1852 To: 1853

William Anstee: his father John held a farm at Chalton. There was a quantity of potatoes lying in the field, which had been ploughed up. He missed some of them on 10 December. They had been ploughed up on the previous Saturday and he had no given anyone permission to take them. John Hawkins: a labourer working for Mr Stephen Hunt. On 6 December he saw the prisoner and William Humphrey's in a field of Mr Hunt's occupation, called Border Field in Houghton Regis. They were heading for Chalton. He saw them retuned about 3 hours later with potatoes. The prisoner had a basket full of potatoes. Humphreys said they had picked them up on John Anstee’s land. He met the prisoner again on 12 December in Houghton Regis and he told Hawkins not to split. William Strapp: a labourer working for Mr Anstee. On 6 December he saw the prisoner and William Humphrey walking along the road in Chalton towards Tithe Farm. The potato field is on the Tithe Farm. The prisoner had an empty basket on his back. Solomon Gurney: took the prisoner into custody on 18 December. He found the basket at his father’s house, and he knew it to be the prisoner’s basket. He had often seen with it.

item

Duncombe, James,
Anstee, William,
Hawkins, John,
Strapp, William,
Gurney, Solomon

TODDINGTON, Chalton, stealing, potatoes, farmer, HOUGHTON REGIS